Myspace. We have all heard of it. Many of us even have accounts. But do we really know the rules of engagement? Ask yourselves this question “Isn’t there a need for Myspace Etiquette?”

I have a friend/co-worker that shall remain nameless. Prior to the first day of training for our job, friend/coworker requested me on Myspace as his friend. Keeping in mind, I don’t know his profile name and I have only met him once before, I accept him going on the basic knowledge of what I see on his profile page. Once I accept him he sends a message asking what time training starts. Good God Man!! Dangit!! He has got me! Now some would look at this as an intrusion of privacy. A set up even. But friend/co worker has got me. Now we are friends on Myspace.

The thing here is..sure we are cool now.. we work together and have similar interests and the like. But wasn’t it a bit presumptuous of him to think just because we work together I would want him all up and through on my Myspace page? Granted, I’m not big on porn and you probably won’t find the usual sex starved, blonde, bosomy chick on my page as my friend. But isn’t this an intrusion? After my interview with the company, did my future boss look me up on Myspace too? Was the decision of hiring me based on how many friends I have or if I had cool music?

I know.. a bit over the top.. but you get were I’m going with this..

My best friend has another more extreme Myspace circumstance, she actually has a Myspace stalker. She has repeatedly denied said dude on countless occasions. So what did he do? He requests her friends under an alias. Different name, different picture, same tired, lame excuse for a man (no I’m not male bashing) Known said lame is now down with my friend’s network of peeps.

He knew everything about my friend. The kind of music she likes, the type of organizations she affiliates herself with.. everything.. the whole shebang . . He got real slick with it and waited it out. A month before anybody even knew who he really was, he then requested my friend.
How did she find out it was him you ask? Mr. Tired Lame sent a message requesting her friendship with the same tag he used previously “ I think your booty.. oops I mean beauty is amazing. Please be my friend.” Whaaaatt??

With that said.. I have conjured up a few Myspace Laws of Etiquette that Tom just may want to take notice to.

1. Thou shall not request a new friend with out first sending a message (it’s just rude to not at least send a quick shout out to say wassup your supposed new “friend”

2. Thou shall not request a person once they have already been denied. Chances are if
they didn’t want you the first time…

3. Thou shall not request friends that are not related to their particular industry (co-
worker friend sorry but this applies to you. Unless you are into commercial acting and
voice over’s you’re outta the mix son..)

4. Thou shall not "email" me on myspace to say "what’s up" if you have my number and
have known me for more than 5 years...pick up a phone , im me, text me or email me.

5. Thou shall not put a message on my comments talking about how good I look when
clearly it states that I’m "Married" on my profile....my husband is an ex football
player.. he’ll get at you!

6. Thou shall not post flyers or pluggers in my comments sections with a file size bigger
than 200KB.. don’t you know I’ve got other friends who are “just stopping by to say
hi?”

I could go on and on but I fear I don’t have enough time or space in my designated FS blog section. But I think the message here is pretty darn clear. If you are on Myspace, the same basic laws of etiquette apply to this online community. Act human. Be civil. And if you feel the need to request someone’s friendship and you have a notion that they may not accept you, keep perusing. Because sending out a request and receiving a denial may just prompt you to have to use the Myspace Laws of Etiquette.

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